BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search-East Finals

Freundlich Reaches Goal of Being in Top Four on a Catch Ride

Not having a high caliber equitation horse hasn't kept Krista Freundlich from getting on the winner's podium. This time, although she didn't make it to a medal, the Locust, N.J., girl reached another goal which was to qualify for the equitation finals at The National in Florida. Freundlich established the lead during the flat phase where she took advantage of her mount's former life as a dressage horse, and dazzled the judges with several flying changes and lateral work.

The 2001 bronze medal winner in the BET/USET Show Jumping Talent Search, she had been on top, going into the last round where she was aboard grandprix horse, Kontiki. Her ride-off trips on the horses of her three rivals didn't seem as strong or consistent as her initial one on a borrowed mount, Kontiki. When the 17-year-old needed a horse, she had turned to her trainer, Frank Madden. He remembered the chestnut gelding he had been trying to persuade fellow trainer Ken Berkley to lend him for the finals. He and Berkley, who rode the horse in prixes, came to an agreement two weeks before the medal finals at Gladstone. Krista, who hasn't owned her own horse in years, made a quick trip to the Capital Challenge with the gelding for a couple of classes to help them get acquainted.

Not allowing the disappointment of losing the lead alter her focus, "I just wanted to be in the top four," said the part time college student who is also a working student of Madden's.

She has been catch riding Mary-Alexis Healey's Laurin to qualify the gray mare for indoors. She and the mare were part of the gold medal North American Young Riders championships show jumping team. They will be reunited as part of the Zone II junior jumper team headed for the under-18 championships at the Pennsylvania National. She also will make a try for the USA Eq/Miller's-Pessoa hunt seat medal on her regular equitation mount, S & L Appear-Al. She and the Dutch-bred will be together in the Maclay finals and the Washington International horsemanship championship.

"These riders are headed for the jumper ranks." Commented trainer Frank Madden. While the gold slipped away in the finall phase, Freundlich had demonstrated talent and focus, which is the purpose of changing the title of this competition from USET Medal Finals, to Talent Search. To make the top 4 over 56 qualified entries, demonstrates the talent for the future, a career goal Freundlich has clearly in her sights.

Nancy Degutis for HorsesDaily.com